What treatment options are available after relapse if you choose not to pursue a second stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy, and how long can remission last?
Several treatment approaches are available after relapse without pursuing a second transplant or CAR-T therapy:
Restarting Original Therapy
If your remission Show Full Answer
What treatment options are available after relapse if you choose not to pursue a second stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy, and how long can remission last?
Several treatment approaches are available after relapse without pursuing a second transplant or CAR-T therapy:
Restarting Original Therapy
If your remission lasted at least six months to a year, your doctor may recommend restarting your original treatment. This approach is successful about 50 percent of the time, especially if you were in remission for at least a year.
Proteasome Inhibitors
These medications are commonly used after relapse:
* Bortezomib (Velcade)
* Carfilzomib (Kyprolis)
* Ixazomib (Ninlaro)
Monoclonal Antibodies
Biologic drugs offer another treatment option for relapsed myeloma.
Combination Therapies
If your disease still responds to lenalidomide, several three-drug combinations show strong results:
* DRd (daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone) - most common choice with deep, long-lasting responses
* KRd (carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone) - powerful option requiring heart monitoring
* IRd (ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone) - all-oral option
* ERd (elotuzumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone) - gentler choice
A MyMyelomaTeam member who has relapsed 14 times shared that staying on treatment as long as it's controlling the myeloma is important, even if side effects occur, to preserve future treatment options.
February 9
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